OCE Referral for Dismissal Regarding Rep. C.W. Bill Young
On December 2, 2009, the OCE transmitted a referral to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct of the United States House of Representatives regarding Representative C.W. Bill Young.
Nature of Review
In Fiscal Year 2009, Representative C.W. Bill Young authored several earmarks for clients of PMA Group, Inc. (hereafter “PMA”). During campaign cycles 2008 and 2010, Representative Young received contributions to his campaign committee and “Leadership PAC” from PMA’s PAC, PMA employees, the PACs of PMA clients for whom he authored earmarks, and the employees of those clients.
If Representative Young solicited or accepted contributions or other items of value in exchange for or because of an official act, or solicited or accepted contributions or other items of value in a manner which gave the appearance that the contributions were linked to an official act, then Representative Young may have violated 18 U.S.C. § 201(b) (Bribery), 18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(Illegal Gratuities), 5 U.S.C. § 7353 (Gifts to Federal Employees), and House Rules and Standards of Conduct.
OCE Recommendation
The Board of the OCE recommended that the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct dismiss the above allegations.
Committee Conclusion
On February 26, 2010, the Committee issued a report closing its investigation of this matter and dismissing it.